Ahwatukee is an Indian word meaning "house of my dreams" or "magic place of my dreams."  Ahwatukee Foothills is a 4,100 acre master-planned community designed by Tom Weiskopf.  Housing ranges from apartments, townhomes and patio homes to custom territorial estates.  Predominant prices are between $100,000 for a detached patio home and $450,000 for an upscale luxury home.  Nearby communities include Mountain Park Ranch to the south, a 2,650 acre master-planned community that draws families looking for good value for their housing dollars.  Mountain Park Ranch offers a diverse choice in housing, from patio homes to large single-family estates.  It has three community centers featuring tennis, swimming pools and picnic areas.  Also nearby are Lakewood and the Pointe at South Mountain which feature new and resale homes in addition to several other smaller subdivisions.

Ahwatukee is served by the Kyrene Elementary School District and Tempe Union High School District, both of which have outstanding academic ratings.  Arizona State University is nearby in Tempe.

South Mountain Park is prized for its hiking and biking trails and scenic desert environment.  More than forty miles of recreational trails wind through its petroglyph-marked hills.